Automatic ball mark retrieval system

ABSTRACT

What make this divot tool and ball mark combination unique and new is its incorporated automatic ball mark retrieval system. The golfer can place the divot tool in his or her pocket separately from the ball mark or vise versa and the two components will automatically link together in the pocket every time thru design and magnetic force. For example, the divot tool is part A and the ball mark is part B, part A is placed in the golfer&#39;s pocket separately from part B and the two components will automatically link together. After this process occurs the golfer can retrieve the divot tool and ball mark automatically united together. This system is made possible by the strategic placement of the magnet in the divot tool and the precise size of the ball mark. This is important Because any where the divot tool and ball mark falls in the pocket it will link every time.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Prior application Ser. No. 10/798,083

This current application is a continuation in part to a previousapplication filed on Feb. 15, 2001. The idea, concept, and functionalityis exactly the same and did not change. The only difference between theprevious and that of the current application is the magnet is now in thedivot tool and not in the ball mark. This invention works and functionsexactly the same way as that of the prior application filed on Feb. 15,2001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of end ever to which this invention pertains to is the sportof golf. Golf is a sport in which a person or persons play 18 holes fora cumulative score based on par usually being 72. The score is kept fromtee to green and the shots are added up at the end of a 18 hole roundfor a cumulative score. There are several tools need to play golfincluding; golf balls, clubs to hit the ball, a putter, and a divot tooland ball mark combination. The divot tool is used to repair theindention made from the ball hitting the green and the ball mark is usedto mark the place where the ball rests on the green when the ball ispicked up. There are many types of divot tool and ball mark inventionson the market, mostly pertaing to its design not any particularfunctionality. With saying that, the divot tools on the market todaypose problems pertaining to the way the ball mark is retained on thedivot tool. All the divot tools today have been designed to retain theball mark certain designated or recessed area on the divot tool. Theproblem with this is after the golfer uses the ball mark he or she hasto retrieve the divot tool out of their pocket and place the mark backon the tool. If the golfer does not place the ball mark back onto thetool after each use he or she will have to fumble through their pocketfor the ball mark at the next hole. Another problem is loss ormisplacement of the ball mark through two different scenarios. Forexample, when the golfer sits down in the golf cart for transportationto the next hole the ball mark has a tendency to fall out of thegolfer's pocket and at the end of each round golfer's have tendency notto place the ball mark back on the tool therefore misplacing it.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The golf divot tool and ball mark combination incorporates an automaticball mark retrieval system invented to alleviate common problems orinconveniences that typically occur on the golf course with other divottool devices. The golf divot tool invented is a simple concept thatmakes the divot tool and ball mark combination more convenient andaccessible for today's golfer. It functions by using a speciallydesigned highly magnetized neodymium bar magnet strategically embeddedin the center of the divot repair tool and a carbon alloy ball mark thatattaches to the divot tool thru magnetic force. When these twocomponents are in the same proximity they inherently link together everytime. In other words, when the divot repair tool and the ball mark areplaced in the golfer's pocket separately the two componentsautomatically link together becoming one unit. The divot tool and ballmark links together every time because after each component is placed inthe golfer's pocket the divot tool and ball mark mimic paths and come torest in the same place in the pocket. Therefore because of the strategicplacement of magnet in the divot tool the ball mark is always in sameproximity of the magnet automatically linking the ball mark to the divottool. For example, suppose the divot tool is part A and the ball mark ispart B, part A can be placed in the golfer's pocket separately from partB and they will automatically link together becoming one unit, ABunited. This benefit solves the inconvenience of manually placing theball mark back on the tool after each hole; it aids in keeping up withthe mark, and prevents searching for the small ball mark in the golfer'spocket

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A: Front and side elevational view

FIG. 1A shows the front elevational view of the invented divot tool andball mark. The divot tool is 1 inch wide and 3 inches long and the ballmark is 1″ diameter. Embedded or pressed in the center of the divot toolis a highly magnetized bar magnet 1 and ¾ inches long running verticaldown the center of the divot tool. The bottom halve of the viewillustrates the forks of the divot tool. The body in which the magnet ispressed in is metal or plastic. The ball mark illustrated is carbonsteel that highly attracted to magnetism. This view illustrates thestrategic placement of the magnet in the divot tool and precise size ofthe ball mark. The strategic placement of the magnet and the size theball mark is directly related because when these two components come torest in the golfer's pocket they will automatically link together everytime. In other words, when the divot tool and ball mark are at rest inthe pocket the magnet will always be in the same proximity of the ballmark and the two components will automatically link together. This FIG.1A also illustrates the side views of both the divot tool and the ballmark for reference purposes only.

FIG. 1B: Rear and side elevational view

The rear elevational view mimics or is the exact same as the front viewof Part A, the divot tool and part B, the ball mark. The magnet isexposed on the front and rear sides of part A, the divot tool. This FIG.2A also illustrates the side views of both the divot tool and the ballmark for reference purposes only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The new golf divot tool and ball mark combination was designed andinvented to incorporate an automatic ball mark retrieval system. Thissystem is made possible by the divot tools precise method of manufactureincluding the design, materials of construction and the technologyincorporated. The first step was to make sure that the tool was made toaccommodate the core functionality of the divot tool and ball markcombination which is to fix a divot in the green and to mark theposition of a golf ball. The next step was to incorporate the inventedprocess of the automatic ball mark retrieval system that will link thedivot tool automatically within the golfer's pocket. The divot tool isfirst stamped out of stainless steel mimicking the design with avertical hole down the center of the tool. After the raw tool is stampedout a special designed bar magnet is then pressed into the hole exposingit on both sides. After the tool is complete the ball mark is made outof flat carbon steel to a precise diameter depending on the design ofthe tool. The ball mark, being constructed of carbon steel, is extremelyattracted to the highly magnetized divot tool. This tool has beenspecially designed and invented to allow the golfer to place the divottool and the ball mark in his or her pocket separately, to have bothcomponents automatically link together within the pocket. When the divottool falls in to the golfer's pocket it rest at the same place everytime. When the ball mark falls in the pocket it mimics the path of thedivot tool and automatically links to the divot tool every time.Therefore because of the strategic placement of magnet in the divot toolthe ball mark is always in same proximity of the magnet automaticallylinking the ball mark to the divot tool. In other words, the divot toolcan be placed in the pocket in any direction desired and when it comesto rest the ball mark will always fall within the force of magnetismgiven off by the specially designed and strategically placed magnet inthe center of the divot tool. As illustrated in T-1, suppose the divottool is part A and the ball mark is part B, my claim is that part A canbe placed in the golfer's pocket separately than part B and they willautomatically link together becoming part AB united. There exist otherdivot tools on the market today using magnetic force to retain a ballmark. The problem with these divot tools is that the ball mark has to beplaced in a designated recessed area on the tool. These types of designspose many problems to golfers today. For example; after each hole thegolfer has to physically place the ball mark back onto the divot tool.If this is not done the golfer is left fumbling through his or herpocket for a small ball mark. Another problem is when the ball mark isloose in the pocket it has a tendency to fall out when sitting in thegolf cart, therefore losing or misplacing the mark. With the use of theautomatic ball mark retrieval system any golfer can eliminate theseproblems and inconveniences. This invented concept is a system that willallow golfer's to play with much more focus knowing that their ball markwill always be secured to the divot tool through the natural flow of thegame. This conceptual system and is not limited by design. This idea, ifdesigned correct can incorporated in other divot tool shapes if the tooland ball mark is specially designed and tested so the two componentswill link together every time.

1. The claim of this invention is that the divot tool and ball mark canbe placed in the golfer's pocket separately and the two components willlink together every time made possible by the inventions unique design,concept, and magnetic force. Suppose the divot tool is part A and theball mark B the claim is that part A placed in a golfer's pocket at aseparate time that part b, part A and B will automatically link togetherallowing the golfer to retrieve the divot tool and the ball markautomatically united thru design and magnetic force. The divot tool canbe placed in the golfer's pocket in any direction and because of thespecially designed magnet and its strategic placement in the divot toolthe ball mark will always fall within the force of magnetism when placedin the pocket.